07 September 2008
New Christmas CD
11/09/08 11:59 Filed in: Gift Buyer Review
North Star Music is ready for holiday gift buyers with a new line of CD’s. The new We Three Strings, by Johannes Linstead, will be hard to resist -- especially if you play it in your store. As editor of Gift Basket Review Online, I listen to many new releases and this is one of the best holiday CD’s I’ve heard this year. We Three Strings is twelve of your all-time favorite Christmas songs performed by three of today’s finest guitarists with World, Latin, and Smooth Jazz rhythms. It features Billboard-charting recording artist Johannes Linstead, Bryan Lubeck, and Tomas Michaud. Put it in your best holiday gift baskets! Beautiful packaging -- great music.
Contact: www.northstarmusic.com
Candle Safety Notes
11/09/08 11:47 Filed in: Success Scoop
Orla Soy Candle company offers safety notes and helpful hints for using candles. Be sure to pass these along to customers.
- To maintain your candle, sharp scissors are a must as you must trim the wick to 1/4” before you light the candle for the first time. A metal utensil (spoon or butter knife) to center the wick and clean the melt pool are also helpful.
- Keep the wick trimmed 1/4” and centered for a cleaner burn. Keep wax free of wick trimmings.
- On the first burn let the melt pool reach the edge of the container. If the candle is burning to one side, push the wick towards the opposite side and/or turn the candle away from the draft.
- Always place candles (warmers or melters) on a heat resistant surface. Keep away from drafts, open windows, ceiling fans, vents, pets, children and flammable objects. Keeping the burning candle away from drafts will help prevent uneven burning and sooting.
- Do not burn under a cupboard or shelf. This inhibits the amount of oxygen that is getting to the wick and will cause black soot to form. It is also dangerous.
- Mushrooms sometimes found on top of the wicks, are carbon deposits usually appearing after long burning cycles. Always trim these off and keep them out of the melt pool for more efficient burn.
- If the wick becomes too long, or an air current disturbs the flame, small amounts of unburned carbon particles will escape from the flame as a visible wisp of smoke. Any candle will soot if the flame is disturbed or the wick needs to be trimmed. Keep the wick trimmed to 1/4”. If soot builds up on the glass, clean with a paper towel and glass cleaner. (When soot starts to build up on the glass it means your candle needs attention and you may need to trim the wick, move the candle out of the draft or away from the ceiling fan.)
- 100% soy wax candles may look and burn differently than candles made from wax blends or paraffin. You may see subtle frosting on the top and sometimes on the insides of the candle, bubbles around the edge of the melt pool, and a waxy film around the edge of glass. If candles are left in artificial light for long periods of time they may darken or change color. It is rare and depends on the type and amount of essential oils in the fragrance. None of the above will affect the performance, enjoyment or safety of your candle. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish candle before going to sleep!
Information provided by Orla Soy Candle www.orlasoycandle.com
- To maintain your candle, sharp scissors are a must as you must trim the wick to 1/4” before you light the candle for the first time. A metal utensil (spoon or butter knife) to center the wick and clean the melt pool are also helpful.
- Keep the wick trimmed 1/4” and centered for a cleaner burn. Keep wax free of wick trimmings.
- On the first burn let the melt pool reach the edge of the container. If the candle is burning to one side, push the wick towards the opposite side and/or turn the candle away from the draft.
- Always place candles (warmers or melters) on a heat resistant surface. Keep away from drafts, open windows, ceiling fans, vents, pets, children and flammable objects. Keeping the burning candle away from drafts will help prevent uneven burning and sooting.
- Do not burn under a cupboard or shelf. This inhibits the amount of oxygen that is getting to the wick and will cause black soot to form. It is also dangerous.
- Mushrooms sometimes found on top of the wicks, are carbon deposits usually appearing after long burning cycles. Always trim these off and keep them out of the melt pool for more efficient burn.
- If the wick becomes too long, or an air current disturbs the flame, small amounts of unburned carbon particles will escape from the flame as a visible wisp of smoke. Any candle will soot if the flame is disturbed or the wick needs to be trimmed. Keep the wick trimmed to 1/4”. If soot builds up on the glass, clean with a paper towel and glass cleaner. (When soot starts to build up on the glass it means your candle needs attention and you may need to trim the wick, move the candle out of the draft or away from the ceiling fan.)
- 100% soy wax candles may look and burn differently than candles made from wax blends or paraffin. You may see subtle frosting on the top and sometimes on the insides of the candle, bubbles around the edge of the melt pool, and a waxy film around the edge of glass. If candles are left in artificial light for long periods of time they may darken or change color. It is rare and depends on the type and amount of essential oils in the fragrance. None of the above will affect the performance, enjoyment or safety of your candle. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish candle before going to sleep!
Information provided by Orla Soy Candle www.orlasoycandle.com
New Candle Fragrances
11/09/08 11:39 Filed in: Gift Buyer Review
New candle fragrances are on the market -- ready for fall and holiday gift baskets. Cedar and saffron are popular again this year, and Orla Soy Candles has a good one with packaging matched perfectly to fall colors. Named Weeked in Tuscany, the candle has a distinctively fresh scent with a sensation of texture and warmth. It contains bottom notes of sandalwood, cedarwood, amber and musk with alluring top notes of bergamot, lavender and coriander. Website: www.orlasoycandle.com
Finger Lickin' Cooks?
10/09/08 11:01 Filed in: In the News
Finger-licking cooking is one thing, but finger-licking cooks?
A new Texas Tech University study on food safety measures found that some Food Network stars may inadvertently be teaching the wrong lessons during their popular shows.
Last year researchers sat down to analyze food-safety practices used on the Food Networks’ heavy hitters – 30 Minute Meals with Rachael Ray, The Essence of Emeril, Everyday Italian, Paula’s Home Cooking and Semi Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee.
The results weren’t exactly savory: 118 positive food-safety measures and 460 poor food handling incidents. Among the most noticeable bad behaviors were not washing fruits, vegetables and herbs properly, as well as a lack of hand washing in general.
Researchers analyzed 49 shows airing over a two-week period and used 17 different coded categories: six positive and 11 negative. Positive categories included hand washing, cleaning equipment, washing fruits and vegetables, adequate refrigeration, use of a thermometer or other positives.
Negative behaviors include food from unsafe sources, failure to use a thermometer, use of food from the floor, failure to refrigerate perishables, failure to wash fruits or vegetables, inadequately washing equipment, sampling food or licking fingers, cross-contamination of ready-to-eat or raw foods, touching the face and failing to wash hands.
“These are important behaviors because if they’re not followed you can become ill,” said Mindy Brashears, associate professor and director of Texas Tech’s International Center for Food Industry Excellence. “Many food-borne illnesses can be prevented by proper food handling, and that’s why it’s important these popular stars follow good safety practices.”
The Food Network is distributed to more than 85 million households in the United States and is considered the giant in food programming, ranked number one out of 50 cable channels.
A new Texas Tech University study on food safety measures found that some Food Network stars may inadvertently be teaching the wrong lessons during their popular shows.
Last year researchers sat down to analyze food-safety practices used on the Food Networks’ heavy hitters – 30 Minute Meals with Rachael Ray, The Essence of Emeril, Everyday Italian, Paula’s Home Cooking and Semi Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee.
The results weren’t exactly savory: 118 positive food-safety measures and 460 poor food handling incidents. Among the most noticeable bad behaviors were not washing fruits, vegetables and herbs properly, as well as a lack of hand washing in general.
Researchers analyzed 49 shows airing over a two-week period and used 17 different coded categories: six positive and 11 negative. Positive categories included hand washing, cleaning equipment, washing fruits and vegetables, adequate refrigeration, use of a thermometer or other positives.
Negative behaviors include food from unsafe sources, failure to use a thermometer, use of food from the floor, failure to refrigerate perishables, failure to wash fruits or vegetables, inadequately washing equipment, sampling food or licking fingers, cross-contamination of ready-to-eat or raw foods, touching the face and failing to wash hands.
“These are important behaviors because if they’re not followed you can become ill,” said Mindy Brashears, associate professor and director of Texas Tech’s International Center for Food Industry Excellence. “Many food-borne illnesses can be prevented by proper food handling, and that’s why it’s important these popular stars follow good safety practices.”
The Food Network is distributed to more than 85 million households in the United States and is considered the giant in food programming, ranked number one out of 50 cable channels.
Black Licorice Recall
10/09/08 10:39 Filed in: In the News
September 5, 2008 -- Lucky Country Inc. of Lincolnton, NC is recalling all of its natural black licorice products from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Washington State due to elevated levels of lead.
Recent tests performed by the California Department of Public Health and the Food and Drug Administration showed that Lucky Country Aussie Style Soft Gourmet Licorice Black (All Natural) in 1.5 lb bags contained a lead level exceeding the level permitted in candy. Because of this finding, Lucky Country is voluntarily recalling all of its Lucky Country Aussie Style Soft Gourmet Licorice Black (All Natural) from the market. In addition to the 1.5 lb bags, Lucky Country also manufactures this natural black licorice product in 6 oz and 3 lb bags, and in a 1 lb tub. Consumers are advised to check to see if they have this product in their possession and should either dispose of it or return it to their retail outlet for a full refund.
Lucky Country is cooperating with the California Department of Public Health and the Food and Drug Administration to conduct the recall. Consumers with questions may contact the company at customerservice@lucky-country.com, or 828 428-8313 during business hours.
Recent tests performed by the California Department of Public Health and the Food and Drug Administration showed that Lucky Country Aussie Style Soft Gourmet Licorice Black (All Natural) in 1.5 lb bags contained a lead level exceeding the level permitted in candy. Because of this finding, Lucky Country is voluntarily recalling all of its Lucky Country Aussie Style Soft Gourmet Licorice Black (All Natural) from the market. In addition to the 1.5 lb bags, Lucky Country also manufactures this natural black licorice product in 6 oz and 3 lb bags, and in a 1 lb tub. Consumers are advised to check to see if they have this product in their possession and should either dispose of it or return it to their retail outlet for a full refund.
Lucky Country is cooperating with the California Department of Public Health and the Food and Drug Administration to conduct the recall. Consumers with questions may contact the company at customerservice@lucky-country.com, or 828 428-8313 during business hours.